Liquid-level gauge



Sept, @,I E930. M, E CHENEY 1,775,273

LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1928 El?, Z.

Q 7 /4-L /fjmp Patented Sept. 9, 1930 fUNiTEnsTATEs MOSES E. CHENEY, OF LA GROSSE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, j, TOMOTO METER GAUGE & EQUIPMENT CORPORATION,y OF LONG ISLAND CETY, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATON OF DELAWARE PATENT ori-lcs LIQUID-LEVEL GAUGE Original application filed October 25, 192.8, Serial No.-228,578. Divided and` this application filed May 19, 1928. Serial No. 278,954.

and a considerable depth therefrom to become aerated. This `agitation is caused partly by the unevenness of the road upon which the vehicle is traveling and also by the variations in the speeds of travel and changes in the direction of travel.

The instrument consists of a unitary structure readily adapted to be inserted into a tank and having suitable connections to a gauge mounted on the dashboard of car and within the range of vision of the operator.

Y The device is preferably constructed from a short length of metal tubing having one end formed with a bell-shaped receptacle to be inserted into the tank. Vertically arranged within the receptacle and projecting substan* tially below the same is a web like bar or baille plate which further aids the agitations of the liquid as it surges to and fro within the tank. The primary purpose however, of the baiile plate is to offer an obstruction to the aerated fluid as it moves beneath the bell or cup shaped receptacle, thereby momentarily stopping the substantially hori- Vzontal movement of the bubbles of air which immediately rise and become entrapped with in the bell housing.

Gauges of this type heretofore used were not entirely successful in that the means provided to replenish the air within the bell ofttimes became defective due to clogging of the sieve or air tubes employed as the case may be. This invention, as will be apparent, is designed to take advantage of the moving liquid to supply air to the gauge without the aid of complicated devices or other external means, resulting in a very simple, inexpensive, and highly accurate fitting.

It is important that the pipe line to the gauge be kept free from liquid at all times since the accuracy of the instrument depends solely on the differential in the air pressure which is caused by the changes in the liquid level of the tank. This invention proposes a means whereby the line is automatically cleared at all times since new air is constantly being introduced into the bell without further attention or care of any kind.

lOther objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, lil-:e characters of reference denote corresponding` parts throughout all the views, of which zi Fig. l represents a tank partly filled with fluid and showing the improved device submerged therein kwith its connections Vto a gauge of a common form. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device incorporating this invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the l bell receptacle showing more clearly the relative position of the baille plate.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the tank fitting is comprised of a short length of metal tubing 5 provided at its lower end with an air bell G which may be soldered thereon in the usual manner or which may be made integral with the tube 5 by expanding the tube by a conventional method, such as for example, by a spinning, drawing, or pressing operation. The other end of the tube is provided with a threaded end portion 7 whereby the line 8 leading to the gauge Qmay be readily connected thereto.

The tube and bell is supported within the tank l0 by means of the cover plate ll which may be removably fastened to the tank as by means. of the screws l2.

Within the. bell 6 and projecting substanlot tially below the same is a baffle plate or web member 13 which offers an obstruction to the ysurging liquid and deflects the air bubbles into the bell housing.r It has been found that the fitting functions more accurately when vlocated a substantial distance from the ends of the tank as shown in Fig. 1 and 'this is due primarily to the fact that lthe baffle plate 13y obstructs kthe aerat'ed fluid when it vmoves as the bae plate deflects enough air to the bell to keep the line kto thegauge 9 free from liquid. Avent pipe 14 is 'preferably' emwithin said chamber and secured thereto, said -V plate projectingbelow the bottom of the air chamber, the top of the ba'ie plateterminating below the top of said chamber. thereby forming an unobstructed air space near the top of the air chamber wherein aerated liquid may circulate after being guided into said air space by saidy battle plate. l

VIn witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe myname.V l l,

MosEs E; CHENEY.v

ployed to supply air to the tank to compensate for the displacement of fluid withdrawn during the normal running or operation of thecar. Y Y Y. l

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device is simple in construction, automatically Y operated and highly accurate in its performance. The fluid in the tank creat'esa pressure on the air entrapped within thebell directly proportional to the quantity of fluid in the tank,`thisfpressure is then transmitted to the gauge 9 through the line 8 where a reading may be affected.

`Wit-hout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully Vreveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of` either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended tovbe, comprehended within the meaning and rangeof equivalency of the following claims i Having thus revealed this invention i I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, 0r equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United chamber open at its lower end and placed near the bottom of said tank, a tubular connection extending upwardly from the chamber, a top plate secured to saidconnection and forming therewith and with the chamber a single fitting, a baffle plate secured within the air chamber and projecting below the same whereby liquidl will be diverted upwardly within said chamber.

2. ln a tank fitting the combination of a tubular member formed with an enlarged 'end portion opening downwardly and having a battle plate transversely arranged within and projecting substantially One-half its length below said enlarged end portion.

3. In a tank fitting the combination of a tank with an open ended air chamber near the bottom of the tank, a conduit extending from the air chamber, a baiiie plate positioned` Tse A los# CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 775, 273. Granted September 9, 1930, to

MOSES E. CHENEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the heading to the drawing and in the heading to-the printed specification, date of original application filed should read "October 25, 1927" instead of October 25, 1928; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) l Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

